It's a warm autumn day in New Zealand. The ship has docked at Tauranga and we are about to head out on a day that will never be forgotten. Upon arrival to the countryside where Hobbiton is located you are greeted to a range of green mountains, much like those seen in The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit films. We've seen them, we love them, this is why we all come here to see this wondrous place. The excitement levels have built to levels I've not experienced before, as I've never really stepped foot on a location so damn famous before. Upon arrival we get a bus to the beginning of a walkway, this walkway takes us to where we are first introduced to Gandalf in the films. You know, the scene, where he rides in on a horse and cart. Then it begins, we start to hear about how the films were made here, somethings I weren't aware of, some I were. We only get to go inside one of the Hobbit holes, but there really isn't much inside them (so we were told). I feel like they were being prepared for the filming of the new movies, but hey who knows.
Interesting fact: Sir Ian McKellen actually filmed his scenes here for The Hobbit, alone with a green screen, which he absolutely hated.
Without spoiling too much for you. Here are some photo's of this great day. This place feels like you are actually inside the books, which is clearly what they wanted to achieve. What a pleasure it would have been to film here.
Enter! The Green Dragon Inn. The actual building in the Hobbit films.
A barrel of fun!
Seriously the photo's don't do this place justice. Incredible.
